I hope that all of you had an amazing year and are looking forward to 2012 as much as I am. “The year of change” is what I have dubbed the coming twelve month to be and I hope it will be prosperous and filled with good fortune for all of us.

Within the first few days, already, I have made some changes. I now have an official agent once again working for me full-time and, with a such an amazingly skilled team, I imagine myself and the band to be on the road playing for the incredible fans most of the year. I like to be busy and Jim Cressman and the crew at CSA know that very well. And I know that they will be working diligently to book those shows and create some tours that can ensure the listening public we’ll have our show on a stage near them very soon… lighting it up, of course! That’s one change and I expect many more, and just as positive ones, on the way.

Well, as of the end of the week I am heading down to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico as a guest of the Bamford on the Beach event along with, obviously, Gord Bamford. This should be a very fun and exciting week filled with lots of events. Let me give you an example… a reception where myself and Gord greet the people who came down with us. As well as an evening of acoustic performances from myself and GB. Other events include suntanning, drinking the finest local beverages (YARRRRIBA!!) and eating… and more suntanning. I’m really looking forward to that and thanks to the Bamford crew for having me.

I’ve been very fortunate over the last few months to go on “working vacations” as a part of another group’s event but I have the pleasure of going to Costa Rica in February to be a part of a wedding and that is something I am very much looking forward to. I’ve only been as far south as Puerto Vallarta in the Americas so going to a more equatorial destination has always been a desire of mine. That’s going to be a very fun trip and excited to see my friends get married… and to see monkeys. HAHA!!

So, more exciting news is that in the next short while I will be releasing a new single to radio in Canada and internationally. Please watch for it soon. Expected release date is January 23rd so get your dialing fingers ready to call your local station to request it!

In the next couple months I am going to be starting an acting class! I’m really excited about this as acting has been something I have wanted to do for a very long time! It was a passion of mine since I was in highschool, long before I started singing, and I even dropped out at one point because I thought I was going to be an actor at 16…. and here we are! HA! But I will be taking that class and many more after that and maybe do some commercials? Some guest appearances on TV shows like maybe Heartland or The Jerry Springer show? Perhaps even a co-lead role with Brad Pitt and Gerard Butler in a film… or George Canyon and Johnny Reid?! HAHAHA! Anyway, back to reality. I’ll probably end up getting asked to be in a play. Maybe “Annie”…. as Annie? Nonetheless, I am still excited to get that started.

Well, I guess that’s all for now! Other than letting you know that I am going to be in:

- Edmonton at The Nest on the NAIT campus on January 27th (go to http://url.ie/dz6q for ticket info)

- Kamloops on February 4th at the Kamloops Convention Centre (check out http://url.ie/dz6w for ticket info)

- Mission, B.C. for an Acoustic Fundraiser for their Minor Hockey Association on February 11th (skip to http://url.ie/dz6u for all info).

Thanks for stopping in everyone and see you on the road soon!!!

Aaron

My journey started off in Toronto where I was co-producing a few songs for Lisa Manis (www.lisamanis.com) for her upcoming new record, in which I co-wrote both songs (one is a co-write with Lisa) and think we have some absolutely amazing stuff. One song in particular will not get out of my head called “Cowboy” that I wrote with Jessie Sherk, one of the co-writers on “Coming Clean”. I think it could potentially be a hit song for Lisa. God willing and a bit of luck!

Then after 4 days in T.O., I went to Calgary to shoot a tv show for CMT called “Employee of the Week” where I was pitted against Jason Blaine to see who would be the best worker that day in a setting of a brewery. So much fun to hang with Jason and give each other a hard time and fool around like a couple kids! Good luck, Jason! We’ll see the hilarious footage and who won sometime in March!!

Then it was off to Whitehorse for the MUCH anticipated show that was to be on the Saturday. I got there the day before, on Friday, and got to check into the hotel, Skky, that put us up for the weekend. As I walked into my room, I saw bags on the floor already and thought “Oh, no! They gave me a key to someone else’s room!!” But then all of a sudden, out pops Mason and Jessie from behind a bed! They totally surprised me by coming up after, for weeks, they told me they couldn’t! Made my week, that’s for sure!! And thank you to everyone at that AWESOME hotel for not only great lodging but just being so giving. We really appreciate that. I HIGHLY recommend staying there next time you’re in Whitehorse.

An amazing dinner at a spot called G&P’s was spent with Brendan Kelly, his beautiful wife Janet, our friends Roger Gabriel and Christine Lambert (who are musically known as Arabella) and Christine’s father, Ted. An unreal meal and even BETTER wine!! Thanks for picking up the tab, Brendan and thank you also for the great conversation… about how you were the FIRST person to ever run across Canada!!! EVER!!! Mason was blown away by you as we were too. Look it up folks. Very impressive!

After dinner we headed back to the hotel where we got to sit and have a couple drinks at the VOLARE restaurant just off the lobby. To the serving staff there, sorry for having the table we were at perfectly in your way. Not once to complain but I felt bad. Hopefully the tip made up for that!! Once we consumed a night-cap (or two) it was off to bed for a well-deserved sleep.

The next morning we went to pick up Scott Smith, my guitar player and get him settled into his hotel room followed by meeting up with Roger and Christine for breakfast and talk about what the day would hold. It was going to be a fairly full day after about 2pm but I knew one thing that I wanted to meet the families of the boys who were injured by the accidents but knew we had to do a soundcheck first so we got that done, ran to the hotel and got changed for the show. When we got back to the school, where the show was being held, I got to meet the families. They were so sweet and you could feel their pain but also their happiness that the community came together to help.

The show was awesome and was kicked off with an awesome performance by a local girl named Maya Poirier. She did two original songs and sang beautifully. Keep at it little lady! You’ll do well. Next up was our friends, Roger and Christine, also known as Arabella, who played a mix of cover songs and originals. Both people are awesome singers but as well as being great entertainers! Wicked job guys and thank you for stepping up to help out. Especially Christine who worked her butt off along side all those others who helped organize the event. You all were spectacular at making this happen in such a short time!!

I love being able to do these acoustic shows because I get a chance to not only tell the stories of where the ideas for the songs that I wrote came from, but also that I can be a goof off like I normally am! I get to play songs that you would never hear at my full-band show and it’s just a more intimate setting where the crowd really listens! Thank you for coming out to support such an amazing cause, Whitehorse. I love you all and can’t wait to come back there someday for a big band show!! It was so awesome to meet all the wonderful people of that gorgeous city after the show and thank you to those for sticking around for so long to say hi. As well, another thank you to the Kelly’s for the super-fun after party!!

Sunday was one of the most relaxing days I’ve ever had! We went for breakfast and then zipped off to go DOG SLEDDING!!! How cool was that??!! Never ever thought I would do that but now I have and I want to go again!!!!!! We went to a place called Muktuk Dogsled Adventures (www.muktuk.com) that is owned by world champion Frank Turner and some of the stories that guy told were really impressive!! And excellent staff. Later on that evening after a visit with Christine’s mom on her acreage, we went to the Hotsprings. Incredibly relaxing and just a stunning enviroment. It was exactly what we needed after all the running around we had done and the perfect end to my time away from home!!

A special thank you to Vanessa Falle (www.vanessafallephotography.com and on Twitter at @vanessafalle) for taking some unreal photos for us while dogsledding. Noah is a pretty cool kid too, by the way! Also to Air North for the flights up to The Horse! To Marshall and John, who donated time and equipment (lights and sound) for the show.

All in all, guys, if you have never been to Whitehorse…. YOU NEED TO GO! It will change you. It has changed me. I love it there and will be back many, many times throughout the rest of my life, I know that. Until then, Yukoners… I’ll be thinking of ya!

In closing I would like to say to all reading this (as well, if you could pass this message on to others for me) to enjoy celebrating whatever it may be you might be celebrating this season. To all my friends, family and fans I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Aaron

I sorry that it’s been so long since my last journal/blog entry but things really have been crazy. Besides an awesome summer of shows all over the country but also trying to keep up with the industry has been time consuming. Nonetheless, it’s something I love to do.

A few things of note that you all should know, is that I did my first official co-producing of a single! It just so happens that I am also one of the performers on the track. It’s a Christmas single that I did with newcomer Lisa Manis from Ontario who is an amazing singer and has a bright future ahead of her! The single is “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and is the arrangement that Bruce Springsteen came out with years ago. We managed to make it a country song with some swing and you can, hopefully, hear it all over Canadian radio over the coming weeks leading up to Christmas! You can download it on iTunes now so go there and get your copy of what I hope you’ll think is a cool holiday duet!

Last month, I was up in Whitehorse, YK with some of the band to play a show at a place called Foxy’s as a part of the Breakout West music conference and subsequent Western Canadian Music Awards of which I was up for an award. What a beautiful area of our country and super great people!!

In fact, I met a couple transplanted “Newfies” that work in the school system there. One person in particular got my attention when I met him. His name is Brendan Kelly. Mr. Kelly, as he is known in his profession, told me a story of an incident that occurred the evening prior to my show. It was about how 3 boys aged between 15 and 16 were at a bonfire party and one of them threw a jerry can with gasoline in it onto the fire. An explosion went off and saw all three young men severely injured. All three were sent to Vancouver General Hospital, where two remain currently but the third has come back to Whitehorse General Hospital where he is still being treated for his injuries still. As well as an 18 year old male who was involved in a dirt bike accident a couple weeks prior to the bonfire incident. He suffered major injuries and after a week of being on life-support he succumbed to those injuries.

Brendan, that evening at Foxy’s, asked if I could do something for the family such as maybe giving a signed t-shirt or a picture for the families. I was so taken aback by the story of these young people that I didn’t feel right just giving some small donation, I wanted to help out as much as I possibly could. So, after the weekend passed, I called Brendan and proposed I come back up and do an acoustic show. Maybe to 200 or so people and help raise some much needed money to at least cut some of those families expenses. I mentioned that maybe Air North, one of only two major airlines that could get myself and maybe one more up there, could give us a somewhat reduced rate on some flights as well as maybe I could talk to a hotel up there to see if they would be interested in helping the same. Brendan said to leave it with him and so I did. A few days later, I received a call from Mr. Kelly where he said, with sheer excitement, that all I had to do was to choose a date in which I could come do the show because everything was going to be taken care of!

I enquired as to what he meant and he proceeded to tell me about how we were going to use the gym at his highschool for the show, which would be a fantastic venue. Also, all the staging, lighting and sound equipment along with a sound man were going to be donated by a local company, which is very generous. But what’s even more is that Brendan spoke with Air North and they agreed to donate 2 flights for myself and Scott Smith, my guitar player, to fly up at not charge! Beyond that, Brendan also spoke with a hotel in Whitehorse and they donated 2 rooms for us for the three nights!! All these complimentary offerings are so generous and gracious of these folks. I was shocked at that and still am so happy that they stepped up to help out!

I had asked, when I first thought of the idea to have this show, my good friend Christine Lambert, a life-long resident of Whitehorse, if she would be a part of the organizing committee for this and there was no hesitation. She jumped on the chance to help out as well and I am so thankful to have someone who is as keen to help out with such a great cause. Her and Brendan met and ended up having meetings with the group they assembled to have this all come together and within a day I got a call from Christine almost out of breath. She was so excited to let me know the good news! The meeting that herself, Brendan and the committee had was to discuss all the ideas and possibilities for funds being raised as a result of this show. The startling thing was that , even though my original thought was that the amount of people attending the show would be around 200, Brendan had different thoughts. He estimated that they could get upwards of 1000 or MORE tickets sold!!

What this meant was, as Christine pointed out, that if we did get around 1000 or so then the funds raised would go to paying off ALL the expenses incurred by the families of the boys of the bonfire accident, as well as the expenses accumulated as a result of the young man in the dirt bike fatality. Including the life-support and funeral costs. And another thing that also made my day was that the potential to have so much left over that the remaining funds will go towards buying an MRI machine for Whitehorse! I can hardly translate how I felt when I heard all that. I was nearly in tears as I was driving!! This relieved the pressure from those families as well as means that in the future residents of Whitehorse and the surrounding area will not have to go to places like Vancouver to get a simple MRI scan done!! They won’t have to fly all that way, rent a vehicle, rent a hotel, eat out all day every day just for one simple procedure! It filled my heart, no word of a lie and still does when I even write about it.

I don’t write this for the attention, for people to think that I need to feel like a hero. In fact I feel the opposite. My involvement is a small role, I feel. I know what my career has been like and how it’s gone well for the last group of years and if I can take some of the notoriety and turn it into assistance for people who need it, then that is what I will do with it. I know that it will come back to me someday but for now, it gives me great feeling to be able to help people smile, relax a little and give hope in a time of need.

It is going to be a very emotional weekend for me, I believe, as I will be meeting the parents of the kids as well as I think just being a part of a city that has so much heart, I won’t be able to contain myself. This truly is the best way to end the year for me. I wish all of you reading this could be up there with me on Saturday night, December 3rd, to show your love and caring for humanity but you WILL be there with me in spirit, which will help ME get me through it all! Thank you!!

I hope everyone reading this has an amazing weekend and I promise I won’t take so long to get the next blog written!!

Much LOVE!!

Aaron

What a summer it’s been… so far! Although the summer officially ends on the 21st of September, we here in the west are supposed to get a longer “summer” than normal. It was a late start to begin with but has sure hit a stride this week with record breaking temperatures in most of Brititsh Columbia and into Alberta. This is great weather for outdoor country music concerts, to say the least, so if you get a chance, go and see a show!!! I’m currently in B.C. and although watching, sadly, a fire that is raging in the forest the weather is beautiful… aside from the smoke. Very scary but no one will be hurt and knowing the firefighting crew will do their best to keep the homes in that area clear of the blaze. This week and following weeks are set to be some of the hottest weather this area has seen at this time of year since they started recording the weather here!! This is what I love. The heat. Who needs Mexico when you live here right now??? Yeeee haaawwww!!!!

I hope you all have a great week. Looking forward to the shows in Windsor, Ottawa, Cornwallis, NS and Charlottetown, PE coming up real soonI!!

I FINALLY DECIDED LATE LAST NIGHT
I HAD TO GET SOME LAUNDRY OFF MY MIND
THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ON MY SHOULDER
SO I TOLD HER
WHAT I WORKED SO HARD TO HIDE
IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME

WHY DOES COMING CLEAN FEEL SO DIRTY
IT ALL CAME OUT IN THE WASH BUT I’M STILL FILTHY
I THOUGHT NO MORE NIGHTS OF LOSING SLEEP
BUT THE GUILT KEEPS EATING AWAY AT ME
WHY DOES IT FEEL SO DIRTY
COMING CLEAN

A MILLION TEARS AND JUST AS MANY QUESTIONS
SHE WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY INDISCRETION
SHE COULDN’T HAVE BEEN ANY COLDER
COULDN’T HOLD HER
EVEN THOUGH I TRIED AND TRIED
THEY SAY THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE
THAT’S A LIE… THAT’S A LIE

CHORUS

I KNOW THAT I CAN’T UNSAY WHAT I SAID
IT JUST ALL WENT SO MUCH BETTER IN MY HEAD

WHY DOES COMING CLEAN FEEL SO DIRTY
IT ALL CAME OUT IN THE WASH BUT I’M STILL FILTHY
I THOUGHT NO MORE NIGHTS OF LOSING SLEEP
BUT I TOSS AND TURN, I CAN’T BREAK FREE
WHY DOES IT FEEL SO DIRTY
COMING CLEAN

Summer is obviously in full swing for me right now as I have been doing many shows all across the country. Bayfest in Sarnia where we opened for Lady Antebellum to a MASSIVE crowd of 25,000 plus, to some acoustic shows just like the two I did in Manitoba on Friday and Saturday, I’ve had an exciting summer season so far. Next up- Duncan, B.C. opening for the legendary Travis Tritt and then Abbotsford, B.C. for a “Rowdy Boys” show with Gord Bamford on August 18th that is going to be a blast! Many other shows coming up including acoustic shows in Windsor and Ottawa but the CCMA’s are on their way as well in the beginning of September which will keep me incredibly busy. Fan Fest, the CCMA hockey game, and so many other things that I’ll be running around like the ol’ chicken!

I hope you all have an amazing day, week, month and rest of summer! Can’t wait to see you soon!!!

So my Canada Day was mostly spent either driving or flying in one of two planes to Kelowna. Exhausting but worth it as the weather was unbelievable this weekend!

Some people, in the past, have thought that I am an American and although I have had the opportunity to go to Nashville to live and create a career in the US, I came to the decision years ago that I love my country too much to leave it. I love going to the States and love the people there but my heart is closer to Canada and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. My theory is that if I was meant to make it in the States then it could happen while me living in my home country.

So, therefore, I say with truthfulness to all the citizens of Canada that I hope you all admire our country like I do. To everyone from other countries whom have never been to Canada, please think of us when planning a vacation or somewhere to go to experience a new adventure. It honestly is an amazing country with beautiful cities and AMAZING people! Come on up and see us… we’ll set it off like the FIRST of July!!!

I’m hoping to see a bunch you at Merritt Mountain Music Festival and Calgary Stampede this week!!!

Ciao for niao!!

Aaron

The single is called “DRIVE” and was co-written by a Canadian music industry icon by the name of Bryan Adams and British writer Phil Thornalley. “DRIVE” is a fast-paced, foot-stomper that is sure to be a summer anthem…. jeez, I sound like my publicity team!!

So, to say that I am ecstatic, is a complete UNDERSTATEMENT!! Do me a favor, if you can, and call ALL the radio stations close to you or even ones you listen to online and request “DRIVE”, please and thank you!

Gotta run…. literally! And then it’s off to the gym to build some more muscle. Want to feel great this summer because we’re expecting a scorcher. Being out on tour, wearing as little as possible and feeling good will be important.

Can’t wait to see you all this summer! Hopefully see some of you this weekend in St. Albert, Alberta for Rainmaker Rodeo!!

And here’ a little tidbit before I let you go:

Common sense is the most evenly distributed quantity in the world. everyone thinks he has enough….. just sayin’

Bye… for now!

ap

I try to tell people of things that can motivate them to push harder and get them not only to their goal but then also to try to go further!!!… Well, today I had motivation that was not expected… and in turn made me run a full 16 km’s, or 10 FULL miles for you American friends! As I was coming up to my 8 mile mark I noticed two dogs up ahead. Normally dogs just sit at the end of their driveway and bark at you and I don’t think much of them but these two dogs, that appeared to be German Shepherd crosses, were out on the road chasing down cars as they passed by. I saw them in time but my options were very limited. So limited, in fact, that I only had ONE choice and that was to turn around and go back the exact way I came…. 8 km’s back… and didn’t stop once!!

So, although I can say things to you for confidence building, training techniques and ways of positive thinking, there is NOTHING that motivates you more than to have two drooling dogs-at-large stare you down from 50 paces and get you to double the run you originally had planned on.

I think I’ll take the day off today and do it again on Wednesday though. This time I will do the 10 miles ON PURPOSE!!!

GO CANUCKS!!! See you all soon!!

ap

Home at lasssssttttt!!! What an amazing tour with a bunch of really great guys! Top of the class was Mr. Gord Bamford himself, of course, who not only puts on a great show but is a great hang and someone I consider to be a very good friend.

You must know that there was obvious apprehension going out on the road with a band that was not mine, even though I had worked with or known all the guys for some time, but they were a real cool bunch to be around. Mark Branconnier, Matt McKay, Steve Farrell, Mike Bourque, D’rail, Billy The Kidd as well as our driver, Gerry, all these guys were a lot of fun and great performers. Well done, gents!

A very, very special thank you to Kim Stoneburg who voluntarily came out to sell merch for me and be my right-hand gal for the Ontario and Eastcoast shows. You did an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING job, Kim. Big things for you within the industry… if you can stand us for that long!! HAHA!!!

Also to Susan Hillman and Amanda Martin for coming on board and helping out with GB’s merch. Nice work to all you ladies!

Thank you to Kelly Resler for having mine and GB’s backs on this trip. Good to know we had some serious support and muscle to do what had to be done to make the ship sail smooth.

And to Gord, I had a total blast on this tour with ya, pal! I can’t wait to get back out and do it again!! This is something that no one has experienced before, being able to watch a duo-headliner act come out on stage together and off-set each other so well. I said it at the shows and I meant it that I cannot think of any other artist that is like-minded enough to be able to see what the other has EQUALLY to offer and have that translate into a seriously wicked show. Many more Rowdy Boy things to come!! And you’ve done a kickass job working out everyday, buddy! You should be very proud of yourself!

Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH to all the fans, friends and family that came out to see the show! Casey and Danni from CMT for highlighting just one of the shows on this crazy, sold-out tour in Guelph that was so amazingly fun and made more fun by having you guys out there with us!!

Keep your eyes peeled for another round of Rowdy Boys shows to come as well as mine and Gord’s solo shows all summer long!!!

Keep on keepin’ on, everyone! And a little inside joke to the crew…. Arvid Prickard says, “Good body every evening!!!”

ap